Last



P. c. WOLFER LAST Filed July 8, 1927 Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL C. WOLFER, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS.

. LAST.

Application filed July 8, 1927. Serial No. 204,231.

My present invention relates to lasts, and more particularly to animproved last for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes designed tosupport and correct the foot of the wearer.

An important object of the present invention, therefore, is theprovision of a last to manufacture the type of shoe illustrated anddescribed in my copending application Ser.

' No. 204,727, filed July 11, 1927, which shoe will maintain normal feetin their normal condition and Which will, at the same time,

give the necessary support and correction to feet which are in need ofsuch support and 1 correction.

In carrying out my present invention, and constructing my novel last,I-utilize and com-v bine several advantageous features therein, all ofwhich features co-ordinate and cooperate to produce a scientificallydesigned and proper last. Attempts have been made. for many years, toproduce a last of this type, but none of these lasts, so far as I amaware. hasbeen satisfactory in use, as all of these lastsover-emphasized some particular feature and carried such feature to theextreme, rather than resulting, as my novel last does, in awell-balanced, scientifically correct shoe last.

My present novel last may be made as a block last, or as a hinge last,with equal facility, either type of last being capable of incorporatingall of the advantageous features herein set forth. To produce thisdesirable last, I proy'ide, on the bottom thereof,

create pockets in the shoe constructed there on. These apexes arearranged'to coincide with the posit-ionof the inner and outer balls ofthe feet of the wearer, and between the 40 being arranged on a diagonalline on the last bottom. 'This'depression results, in the shoeconstructed thereon, in a support for the metatarsal arch, by forming araised surface on the inside of the shoe, and is of great importance.

The principle of providing these apexes, resulting in pockets in theshoe. also eases the vamp line at the throat of the slioe,-allowing aneasy'and natural break between the toe and ball. A

My novel last is also so constructed that all widths and sizes will havea standard height heel, and therefore all variation in a pair ofapexes,i-designed and arranged to apex es I provide a depression, theapexes.

In order to provide for the longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer,I cut the entire inside arch quite deep, particularly just in back ofthe ball. This deep cut arch is accented in the construction of theshoe, and re sults in the natural support of the entire longitudinalarch of the foot. I also provide my novel last with increased fullnessat the portion corresponding to the cuboid bone of the feet, which willallow the foot to rest in a broad depression in the shoe, and will forcethe arch into the proper curved position. This construction of the lastinsures, in the completed shoe, against gaping of the sides and slippageof the heel.

The width of the tread of the last, and .re-

sulting shoe, is designed to comfortably contain the toes and ball ofthe foot, while in no way detracting from the appearance of thefootwear. The roll on the toe of the last is a distinctive feature,and'permits accommodation of the toes in a comfortable manner. This rollof the last terminates at the great toe, where it recedes, resulting ina forepart of attractive appearance and pronleunced style and character,in the completed s 0e.

The back ofthe last, or heel curve, is so pitched that in the resultingshoe there will be no chafing at the heel cord, and the entire heelwill'be seated uniformly without undue pressure in or on any one place.A further and important feature of the present invention is theparticular construction of the heel seat of the last, which is formedmushroom shaped, or convex to a great degree. This results, in the shoemanufactured on such a last, in a deeply cupped heel seat, which willprovide room for my novel heel rest described in said copendingapplication Ser. No.=204,727, thus allowing the fleshy part of theitheel to not only fill out the entire surface of the heel seat, but alsoto rest comfortably and in normal position on the heel rest, thusassuring a positive and comfortable fitting heel. This is also aided bythe scientific construction of my novel last, which is'so constructedand arranged as to maintain the correct balance between the arch and-theheel.

I believe that my last constructed as above briefly described, is novel,and I have therefore claimed the same broadly herein.

Further features of the invention, details of construction, andadvantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of mypresent invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel last;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the last;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings. my novel last is provided on its bottom faceswith two apexes '1 and 2, between which is formed a depr .ssion 3. Aswill be seen, the apexes 1 and are arranged on a diagonal lineacross thelast bottom, to coincide with the relative position of the inner andouter balls of the foot. The last utilized may be a hinge last, or ablock last, or any type or style of last desired, since the novelfeatures herein described may be applied with equal facility to anyexisting type of last. In the shoe constructed on my novel last, pocketswill be created by the apexes 1 and 2, into which the inner and outerballs of the foot will drop,

thus adding greatly to the comfort and free fitting qualities of theshoe made on said last. The depression 3 permits the formation of adesirable support for the metatarsal arch, by

forming a raised surface on the inside of the shoe. The constructionjust described eases the vamp line at the throat of the shoe, allowingan easy and natural break between the toe and ball. The entireinsid'e orlongitudinal arch 4 is out quite deeply,jand particular-. 1y is this soinst in back of the ball or apex 1 at 5. The longitudinal arch extendsto the rear of the last, substantially to the rear of the heel of thelast as'shown at 6, thus resultmg, in the shoe manufactured on thislast, in anatural support for the entire longitudinal arch.

At the portion of-the last corresponding to the cuboid bone of the foot,as shown at 7, the last is formed wide or full, forming a depression inthe shoe constructed thereon into which thefoot of the wearer will restand which will permit the high inside curve of the shoe to force thearch of the foot into a curved position. Also by forming the wide cuboidportion of the last, vand by narrowing the waste of the last, as shownat 8, gaping of the sides andslipping at the heel is substantially ifnot entirely eliminated. The width of the tread,across the forepart ofthe last, is designedto result in a shoe which will comfortably containthe toes and ball of the foot, while in no way detracting from the neatand attractive appearance of high grade footwear. I

The roll o'n the toe of the last, as shown at 9',

permits accommodation of the toes in a comfortable manner, andterminates at the front of the last, at the point corresponding to thegreat toe of the foot, where it recedes. This also results, in the shoemade thereon, in an attractive and neat forepart of distinctive styleand character. 7

It will be instantly apparent that the bottom' of this last is sodesigned as to result in a shoe which will be shaped. to conform to theanatomy of the foot, the heel and ball-tread being so balanced that.throwing of the foot into an abnormal position is eliminated. Any styleofshoe, from oxfords to pumps, may be constructed on this type of last,and all of the advantageous features herein pointed out will be obtainedin such footwear. The back or heel curve 10 is so pitched that it causesno chafing at or on the heel cord, or cord of Achilles and the entireback of the heel will be seated uniformly without undue pressure uponany one part or place.

,The toe portion of the tread, as shown at 11, is formed substantiallyflat, or with but a slight convexity, thus permitting smooth and evenseating and fitting of the forward part of the foot in the shoeconstructed on my novel last.

fiesh part of the heel to fill out the entire surface of the heel seatand to rest comfortably and in normal position on the cushion or heelrest. Thus a positive and comfortably fitting heel is assured in theshoe. This is further aided and assisted by the present last, which isscientifically so constructed as to keep the correct balancebetween thearch and the heel. which will also result in a great relief to the heeland spine of the wearer.

To the rounded heel seat 12 I may also, and preferably do, apply aclinching plate 13, of metal, secured to the heel seat by tacks or nails14. The metal clinching plate 13 also corresponds to'the extremerounding of the heel seat, so that when the shoe is constructed thereon,it can be easily fitted over and around this rounded heel seat,resulting, as aforesaid, in the deeply bupped heel seat desired inthe'shoe.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in this artthat I havedevised a last containing many advantageous and orthopedic fea tures,and yet a last which can be easilyand economically manufactured, andwhich will result in a shoe that will add greatly to the While I havenecessarily described my inwide limits without departing from the spiritof the invention. k

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims asfollows:

1. A last of the kind described provided with a longitudinal instep archextending from the ball of the toe portion to the rear end of the heel,and a pair of apexes on the bottom of said last to cause pockets to beformed in the shoe made on said last to ac- ;ommodatethe inner and outerballs of the oot.

2-. A last of the kind described provided with a longitudinal insteparch extending from the ball of the toe portion to the rear end of theheel, a pair-of apexes arranged on a diagonal line on the bottom of saidlast to cause pockets to be formed in the shoe made on said last toaccommodate the inner and outer balls of the foot, the bottom of saidlast having a recess between said apexes to permit a metatarsal archsupporter tobe formed in said shoe, the heel curve of said last beingpitched to a predetermineddegree. 3. A last of the kind describedprovided with a longitudinal instep arch extending 'from the ball of thetoexportion to the rear end of the heel a .pair of apexes arranged onadiagona l lineon the bottom of said'last to cause pockets to be formedin the shoe made on said last to accomodate the inner and outer balls ofthe foot, the bottom of said last having a recess between said apexes toermit a metatarsal arch supporter to be ormed in said shoe, the heelcurve of said last being pitched to a predetermined degree, the outercuboid extension of the last being so constructed as to provide a widerecess for theouter longitudinal arch of the foot in said shoe, and aheel seat. ofpronounced concavity to form in said shoe a deeply cuppedheel seat. 4. A last of the kind described provided with a longitudinalinstep arch extending from the ball of the toe portion to the rear endof the heel, a pair of apexes arranged on a diagonal line on the bottomof said last to cause pockets to be formed in the, shoe made on saidlast to accommodate the inner and outer balls of the foot, the bottom ofsaid last having a recess between said apexes to permit a metatarsalarchvsupporter to be formed in said shoe, the heel curve of said lastbeing pitched to a predetermined degree, theouter cuboid extension ofthe last being so constructed as to provide a wide recess for the outerlongitudinal arch of the foot in said shoe, a heel seat of pronouncedconcavity to form in said shoe a deeply cupped heel seat, and a roll ofgreater than normal fullness on the toe of said last terminating andreceding on the portion of the last corresponding to the great toe ofthe foot. 4

k 5. A last of the kind described provided with a longitudinal insteparch extending from the ball ofthe toe portion to the rear end of theheel and being of greatest depth at a point just back of the inner ballof the last, a pair'of apexes arranged on a diagonal line on the bottomof said last to cause pockets to be formed in the shoe made on said lastto accommodate the inner and outer f balls of the foot, the bottom ofsaid last having a recess between said apexes to permit a met-- atarsalarch supporter to be formed in said shoe, the heel curve of said lastbeing pitched to a predetermined degree, the outer cuboid PAUL c.WOLFER.

